Five Fresno residents pleaded guilty to participating in a bank fraud scheme prosecutors say relied on checks stolen from the mail. The checks had a face value exceeding $1 million, though banks stopped many payments and actual losses were lower.

Five Fresno residents pleaded guilty in a bank fraud scheme that prosecutors say was organized through Facebook and used checks stolen from the mail. The stolen checks had a combined face value exceeding $1 million. Banks stopped many payments, however, so the actual losses were lower than the checks’ face value. The case demonstrates how stolen mail can become the starting point for check fraud, and how social media may be used to coordinate criminal activity. Consumers and businesses can reduce risk by collecting mail promptly, using secure postal options for sensitive items, and monitoring bank accounts for unfamiliar checks or withdrawals. Anyone who suspects a check has been stolen should notify the issuing bank and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, and consider placing a hold on affected accounts or payments. The defendants’ guilty pleas distinguish this case from an indictment or complaint that contains unproven allegations. The U.S. Department of Justice’s Eastern District of California announced the pleas on September 21, 2026. The supplied report does not provide a detailed accounting of the final losses, so the check face value should not be mistaken for the amount banks ultimately lost.